22.
The book still lay on the small table in front of the couch open to the picture North had been looking at. His father picked it up, took one look, then angrily hurled the book across the room.
"Get your things, North," he cried, "and get out of here! Now!"
For a moment, North stood in total silence. Never in his life had his father spoken to him in such a manner. General Star must have realized this too, for he suddenly became calmer.
"Get your things, son," he said, "and go home. "I'll explain later, so you will understand."
North looked to his father, and then at Bright Star. When he spoke it was to his father. "I think I understand already, sir. Thank you for coming."
His father only nodded as North picked up his books and headed out the door. In the hallway North glanced back toward the library, but all was quiet. Opening the entrance door he looked into the outside hallway, then stepped outside, then for the first time in his life he swung around and stuck his foot between the dorsill and the door so it did not completely close, but as soon as the noise of the mechanisim was heard a voice exploded inside.
"How dare you enter my apartment and act like that?" screamed Bright Star. "I will see that your rank is stripped from you, and you are shipped off to the fartherst outpost in The Empire!"
"Five hundred years," answered General Star, "and it is the same books and the same threats. Except this time you cannot carry them out. My position is important. I am no longer a mere ship's captain, barely out of The Academy, and your brother does not listen to you as he did in the old days. I would not do what you wanted then, and my son will not do what you want now. You will leave him alone, or I will break your miserable neck with my own two hands!"
"How dare you!" was the answering scream from Bright Star. "I am the brother of The Lord God! I have who I please, when I please! If it hadn't been for that damned war you would still be on that asteroid where I had you sent! I can still destroy you, and I will! You denied me yourself, but you will not deny me him! I will destroy you and then have what I want!"
There was a crashing sound, and North figured he'd heard enough. He carefully drew out his foot so that the door went closed, and hurried home. When he arrived his mother took one look at his worried expression and knew that something was wrong. When her son told her what had happened, she began to cry and went to sit on the couch.
"Will that monster never leave us alone?" she wept. "Will we never have any relief from his insanity? How much must we suffer at his hands before The Holy Spirit puts an end to it?"
North and his mother sat for several hours watching the door and the phone. Finally, the door bell rang. Quickly North opened it and